Trunk



Oct. 6, 1936. A. YELLMAN 2,056,701

TRUNK Filed Aug. 29, 1955 1. l 1 I y INVENTOR ALBERT YELLMA/V ATTO R N EY Patented Oct. 6, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRUNK Albert Yellman, New York, N. Y.

Application August 29, 1935, Serial .No. 38,372

2 Claims. ((1190-22) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in trunks.

The invention has for an object the construction of a trunk in which the top and bottom walls thereof are constructed in a novel fashion.

Prior to this invention it has been customary to construct the top and bottom walls of trunks of fiber boards and similar materials, and to arrange angle metallic strips or fiber binding along the edges thereof to connect these wall portions with the said wall portions of the trunk. This construction has proven highly unsatisfactory in that the top and bottom walls of a trunk are the weakest portions thereof and are usually subjected to a great deal of abuse.

This invention has for an object the construction of the top and bottom walls of a trunk of either fibre or sheet metal, first glued on a board having their edges bent inwards and riveted, or in any other manner amalgamated with the side walls of the trunk. This construction eliminates the use of the angle irons or fibre binding used to join the top and bottom walls of the trunk with the side walls.

A further object of the invention is a novel construction of the cover of the trunk characterized by the provision of a rectangular frame of wood upon which the top element is attached and upon the lower edge of which a metallic flange member is attached.

Furthermore, the invention contemplates an arrangement wherein the rectangular frame is constructed of sections adapted to be expanded vertically to increase the capacity of the trunk when desired.

A further object of the invention is the method of attaching top and bottom walls to side walls.

Another object of the invention is the construction of an article as described which is simple and durable and which may be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a trunk constructed according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

- Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged view of a portion of Fig. 4.

The trunk, according to this invention, comprises a rectangular frame it) upon the top edge of which a flat element l l is attached. This fiat element II has its edges H turned downwards and engaging over the top edges of the frame. Rivets I2 are used in attaching the edges of the flat element and the frame together. At the corners there are reinforcement elements 13 secured in position by rivets I4.

A flange member I5 is attached by rivets it upon the bottom edge of the rectangular frame 10. More particularly, the flange member is in the form of a frame engaged over the bottom edge of the frame I0. Preferably, the frame l0 should be constructed of wood or similar material.

A trunk body I1 is connected along one side thereof by hinges to one side of the flange member l5. This trunk body preferably should be made of fiber board. It is reinforced at the corners by angle strips l9 secured in position with rivets 20. Several lock elements 2|, 22, etc., are associated upon adjacent parts of the trunk body and the flange member by which the trunk may be latched. A handle 23 is mounted on the front side of the trunk body. The trunk body I! consists of a side wall structure I! and a bottom wall structure ll This bottom wall structure is metallic and has its edges ll bent upwards and engaging over the bottom edges of the side wall structure ll. Rivets 24 are used to connect the edges of the bottom wall with the side wall.

In Figs. 4 and 5 a modified form of the invention is disclosed in which the trunk is formed with a frame l0 made of several sections Ill and 10'. These sections are each of substantially L- shape and are inter-engaged with each other, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. Screws 25 are mounted upon one of the sections and engage through vertical slots 26 on the other of the sections. Nuts 21 are mounted upon the screws 25 and are adapted to clamp the sections in adjusted positions. The fiat element H is attached by fastening elements l2 to one of the sections of the frame, namely, the section lo while the flange member [5 is attached by fastening elements I8 to the other of the sections of the frame, namely the section 10*.

The compass of the trunk may be reduced by arranging the sectio-ns of the frame in retracted positions. If it is required to increase the carrying capacity of the trunk it is possible to expand the sections of the frame.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A trunk, comprising a rectangular frame, at

fiat element extended across the top side of said frame and having edges engaging over the top frame, and a trunk body hingedly attached on said flange element, said rectangular frame con sisting of inter-engageable expandable sections, means forho'lding said sections in various positions, said flat elementbeing attached upon one of said sections, and said flange member being attached on the other of said sections, said interengaging sections being of L-shape arranged opposed toeach other.

2. A trunk, comprising a rectangular frame, a flat element extended across the top side of said frame and having edges engaging over the top edges of the frame and attached thereto, a flange member attached over the bottom edges of said frame, and a trunk body hingedly attached on said flange element, said rectangular frame consisting of inter-engageablelexpandable sections, means for holding said sections in various positions, said flat element being attached upon one 01' said sections, and said flange member being attached on the other of said sections, said interedges of the frame and attached thereto, a flange j member attached over thebottom edges of said engaging sections being of L-shape arranged opposed to each other, screws on one of the sections engaging through vertical slots in the other of the sections, and nuts engaged on said screws for constituting the means for holding the saidsections'in adjusted'positions.'-

"ALBERT 

